What the Z*N are you talking about?

This week we will talk about ZEN, I do realize that Zen is a very broad topic and I am definitely not a master of it (my partner would strongly agree). I will never claim that I am completely ZEN but I am trying to choose being ZEN more and more, so I can only share the tools I have at hand to work towards full time ZEN.

First of all, what is ZEN? The definition of zen is slang for feeling peaceful and relaxed. Usually that is how we use it in our everyday life - for example I had such a zen time at the SPA. This is also why my instagram profile is zenconsultant, trying to be a Zen (relaxed) Consultant and my yoga school in Malta is called SeaZen Yoga.

There is a long history of the word Zen, which want to acknowledge out of respect: Zen originated in China, from a school of Mahayana Buddhism. Zen is something that resonates with me because it focuses on practice - meditation and direct intuitive insights and it de-emphasizes knowledge of sutras and doctrines; it accepts formal studies and observances only when they form part of one's needs.

I do not know much about Buddhism so I will stop here :) Now back to our culture what for me is reflected by zen is this state of peace no matter what happens. This is the state of being in the present moment and being simply happy with what we have.

Someone sent the Buddha a gift box tied with a ribbon. Buddha opened it to find it empty. “Aha!”, he said, “Just what I wanted. Nothing!” - starting with this small little joke that made me laugh more than I want to admit lol.

If you look at the Buddhist monks you simply want to give them a hug; they illuminate such a strong positive energy! Obviously we cannot all go and become monks, but let’s try to introduce this positive energy into our everyday lives. We can start with appreciating what we have and what we get. This is also strongly related to our expectations about which we talked about last week with the Letting Go topic. If you let go of expectations you are happy with what you get in life. Easily said and not so easy to do!

As a consultant in my full time job we are often taught to manage the clients expectations - which means exactly the same; we do not want to promise an A and deliver a D-, but if we promise D- and we deliver D- then the expectation is met and everyone is happy. Similar way try to manage your expectation - when you are waiting for a big event try to slow down and lower your expectations, this way you can avoid disappointment but also appreciate the experience you actually receive rather than comparing it to your imagination.

Same as forgetting about prince charming on white horse from all the disney movies, appreciate other people for what they are rather than for who they could be. I am sure there is a happy ending in this approach!

‘It’s not happiness that causes being grateful. It’s being grateful that causes happiness.’ ~ David Steindl-Rast

Appreciating of what you have causes happiness and not the opposite - meaning you are the builder of your own happiness. Gratitude is something what you can practice everyday and it does wanders to changing your perspective on life. List 5 things that you are grateful right now.